The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GBF- Dianna Russini + Simms' Revenge
Episode Date: May 26, 2023Dianna Russini joins us to tell us what it was like having Aaron Rodgers pretend not to know her and to gloat about how much better her life has been without us in it. Chris Simms responds to accusati...ons that he intentionally put Tua lower on his Top 40 QB list just to upset Billy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. God bless football Billy Gil. God bless football Mikey, eh? God bless football
Stu got's. We have a delightful surprise for our audience today. Diana
Rucini is going to join us. I'm very excited about this and I have a
delightful surprise for Billy Gil. I mean, this is, and Mikey has a very special update. Did
some digging has a report on if the Hartford Whalers benefit at all from the merchandise
sold by another hockey team. I mean, what? I don't, I don't like your surprises for me,
because typically they're not fun for me. Like you're saying you don't like Diana Rossini?
I mean, no, that's not what I'm saying.
You said you have a surprise for me after you said you have to.
Yeah.
And usually the surprise you have for me are not presented as
surprises.
They're presented as I told you that already.
So what is today's surprise?
Because I don't, I don't know where you are.
Number one.
And I went, I went back through emails and I saw your original email saying you would be working through Thursday on vacation and you left on Wednesday.
So I know that some games happened and things may have changed but I don't like surprises. What is this surprise you have for me? I know you don't like surprises. I am working.
have for me. I know you don't like surprises. I am working. This is Thursday. I'm just working remotely. That's all remotely. No, no, no, no, I am in North Carolina. My daughter's team is
they've made it to the final four Northwestern and they will play Denver and Syracuse and BC
the other two teams. So I am in Carolina here to enjoy the final four and perhaps play Pinehurst 2, 4, 8, 9 and perhaps go to a
dead-and-cup and he show, but I am here for my daughter, my family and the final four,
Billy.
That's what I'm here for.
You are yelling today.
You're very excited.
I'm so happy.
I have a surprise.
Yeah.
Look, see if you can get very surprised.
Turned down the volume a little bit on your mic if you can because you are very excited today
It seems it's the Hartford Whalers news
Where do you want to start Billy? So that's where I am. I'm in North Carolina final four good luck to Northwestern this weekend
My family's coming up. I'll be playing golf when they get here. Yes? Wait, where is your family now? You went up without your family?
Yeah, so I am up here now because we had to record
God bless, football, Billy, I do do some planning.
Like if I left with my family today,
then we'd really be in a rut, you know what I'm saying?
I did do it for those reasons.
I did it so I could play Pinehurst
before my family got up here.
It's really, and my dad's coming.
This is very exciting.
It's a big hit.
Because of your daughter, because of the golf.
To play Pinehurst.
Okay.
You know what you should have talked to is you should have
talked to Taylor before you left, because he's a Carolinian.
I think, well, he's a New Yorker,
but he's also like in that whole North Carolina.
I want to say, you would call him to see.
Yeah, but it's a cult.
He's in that whole like, you know, world.
That calls out.
Also skip.
You should talk to skips.
You have skipped.
Could hook you up with anything up there.
Well, unfortunately for skip and for Taylor, North Carolina choked and didn't make it to
the final four.
So, but you're there.
You're in North Carolina.
Yeah, but not at the University of North Carolina.
They run that state.
Ha ha.
Taylor does.
Well, not Taylor, but Skipper maybe. I have a
question for you. So now this is the final four, right? When is the championship? Sunday.
Okay. And then we're done with the travels. Then we're going to be all back in studio all the time.
Well, though, then the then the dead and company final tour, right? Okay. But I'll be back next week.
I was supposed to stay in Carolina
for the shows in Charlotte and Raleigh,
but I'll be back next week
and then I'll make another quick trip
up the Raleigh for the dead show.
How about that?
And we'll have some more Pinehurst, yeah?
Thank you for coming back.
I mean, that's nice of you.
You're dick.
What's the surprise?
I don't like surprises.
What's the surprise? Do we want like surprises. What's the surprise?
Do we want do we want the update of the Hartford Whalers first?
So for those who do not know last week on I don't even think it was God bless, but I think it was stupidity
We were talking of football was it okay, so we were fabulous football
Yes, okay, okay, so we were talking about the fact
that when you go to Connecticut,
they still sell Hartford Whalers gear
and we were wondering who gets that money
if the team doesn't exist anymore.
And I believe they became the Carolina Hurricanes, right?
So we thought maybe they're profiting off
of the former team name.
And Mike went and did some digging, some reporting.
I think he, I don't know what your process was, but you told us.
I went undercover.
I infiltrated certain areas, but I found out that actually the Carolina
hurricanes get all that money because technically they still own that logo and those rights.
And you can go on NHL, like if you go on the official site you can order
Hartford Whalers type stuff from the Carolina Hurricanes page.
So, way to keep giving them your money Hartford.
Now into the Whalers, do the people who own the Whalers also own the Hurricanes?
Is that?
Yeah, I think they moved and that's why the Hurricanes are so hated here.
But they're gone anyway from the playoffs.
Okay.
I still feel like someone at Hartford deserves that money.
I'm not certain, but I mean, someone associated
with that team.
So football wise guys, and it's at listen,
it's South Florida, we are all glued to the hockey team,
the basketball team, but the NFL is a uh...
is a twelve month proposition now it never stops it never ever ever stop so
billy what was the big news what it christians teased us last time he was on
christians are regular here on god bless football
and he was teasing something that he was about to do with my fluoro on pft
christians is doing his annual top 40 quarterback situation.
And I was wondering where it is that he was going to put to it
because last year he put to a, I believe in the low
to mid 20s, or I guess high 20s depending
on how you look at it.
But yeah, I was wondering where he's going to put to it
because I feel like he's still, here's the funny thing about Sims. If we're going to go like super deep inside.
His jersey is hanging in your room right now, right behind you. I like Chris Sims.
You are loyal to Sims. You love Chris Sims. I like him. I don't know if I love him
still after the shenanigans that he pulled, but so christians i think it's fair to say is not a fan of two and he will dispute that
uh... but he is not a fan of two uh... and it's discredited to a every time he gets
a chance to all last season he would just poop all over to a you know what i mean
uh... and then
radio row and super bowl came
and i guess they were supposed to have to on and then two of came on with Dan,
and it didn't go great, let's just say.
And then there was a clip that circulated,
and it was out of context,
and I was viewed as like this horrible person
for a question I asked two of,
which was meant to be a lighthearted follow-up
to kind of move away from the situation,
but missing that context,
I looked like just a terrible person, two of by the way.
Great guy, yes, two guys. Yeah, Billy, I'd like to clear that person. Too old, by the way, great guy, yes, too, guys.
Yeah, Billy, I'd like to clear that up.
The portions would Dan did not go well.
The portions with me and you at a radio row
went like swimmingly, like it was fantastic.
He loved us, he did.
Well, we talked subway sandwiches,
he signed my jersey that I have hanging up over here on the wall.
We did what you're supposed to do at radio row for a guest.
That's what we did.
We tried.
Yeah.
So anyways, long story short, I guess at some point, two of made a couple more appearances
and then canceled some appearances allegedly, one of which was with Chris Sims and then
him and Mike Floyd did not like that at all.
And then they started saying how they didn't think that it was appropriate to cancel at
the last minute. And then they wouldn't refer to him
as named by his name, but they kept saying
a high level quarterback to which I said,
oh my God, since it's seen the light,
a high level quarterback in Tua,
I can't wait to see where he has him ranked
in his top 40 this year.
This is gonna be awesome.
He had an awakening and then his top 40 came out
and he has him behind Mac Jones. One spot. One spot. So as soon as the rankings came out, in a group text, me and Mikey,
we're peppering you saying he did it just to piss off Billy Gill. But we don't really know,
right? But we don't really know. but we don't really know because Chris Sims
He takes this very seriously. He's very credible. He's the best in the business at breaky down quarterbacks
There is no way he would put together a list and put it in an order just to piss off one man
Oh, I know what your surprise is now
What's your surprise is sim Sims coming on today? You
talked to Sims, didn't you? Well, I have a text to prove it. Now, Sims is not
coming on because he's currently recording the show that pays them, okay? So I
I sent this to Sims. Did you put Mac Jones ahead of to a simply to piss off Billy Yill?
I'm gonna flip my phone around and show you the response from one Chris.
He's gonna say no.
I look at a blah blah blah.
Just says yes, doesn't it?
Okay.
Read it, Billy.
It is a gift of, I believe, Triple H doing the suck it to the Undertaker over and over again
and then it says suck it, Billy, with a face that is crying laughing.
He did.
It's not an emission of guilt, but it is.
Now we know he's not a man of integrity, which I always expected.
You think this hurts me?
You think this hurts me?
No, you should be flat-ed.
I'm in his head.
I'm in his head.
I like this.
You should be flat-ed that as a man who takes this very seriously
and does this for a living,
was putting together his top 40 list,
one of the most popular things he does
all year. And you were in his head and he did it specifically for you watching game tape
taking notes. And then one of the notes is just, after you Billy, it'd be great to be
a two ahead of Mac and then realize, oh, wait, that's going to make Philly happy. This whole
that, I mean, we don't need to pick a part of his list today
because he's not here.
And by the way, we need to come up with our own list
because this list is BS.
But the fact, he has Justin Fields one spot ahead
of Baker Mayfield and Brock Pertie below Baker Mayfield.
Like what are we even, what are we even,
what year is he watching tape from?
Anyway.
Billy, you should be flattered and honored today. Seriously, you have
affected Chris Sims' sacred top 40 cornerback rankings. I mean, I would feel honored if I were
you. I would. Yeah. Congratulations. Thanks. For two of men, he's never going to win.
He's just, he's never going to win in the eyes of people that don't like them
And you know what you should listen here's here's your strategy, okay?
You should say sims, you know what?
I've started to watch some tape and you're right about to it and then I'll go the other way and give two of the credit that he deserves
That's what you need to do. I don't think that'll happen, but sure because he hates you
I'll do it when he's down here for the 18 days.
We have him and Shanahan coming for.
That's right.
Kyle, right?
Yeah.
Kyle.
All right.
Let's let's get to our friend.
I'm very excited for this.
Been a while since we spoke to Diana Rucidi NFL reporter for ESPN and a good friend.
And the last time I spoke to her, Mike, E.A.
She wasn't a mom. Now she is. Let's go. para ESPN y un buen amigo. Y la última vez que me he hecho por mi IKEA, ella era una mamá.
¡Nasà es!
¡Quiz!
¡Quiz!
¡No sé, vamos a ver cómo es. Escuchéis lo que escuchéis, tapados los ojos. La calle vamos todos a cieras,
pero lo más aterradores no saberán que confiar.
Uy de las personas que os piden que mireis.
Si queréis seguir convido.
¡Hola! Hello. Hi. Look how excited you are. We were excited.
Get you're the one.
That is, you seem more excited than I am.
Look, the last time I talked to you, I was a loser living with my parents.
I don't even think I was married.
I stopped talking to you guys.
I got married.
I have two kids.
My career's taken off. I look younger. I've lost weight.
I have so many friends now. We were your toxic friends.
Waiter, are you saying your life got increasingly better since I left it? Is that what you're saying? Is it we left it?
I didn't really. I didn't really. You were the problem.
Really?
Most people don't until I leave them.
Stock just went through the roof.
Never texted the guy again, never called into the show, never even asked, like, how are
you guys going to go?
I don't care because things are so good here.
Right, right.
But you're on with us now.
And so you run the risk of things going the other way on you, you know?
We know what happens when things are really good. You just, you know, like, you know,
what, I'm bored. I need some excitement again. So, so you guys are the black cloud back
in my life. It's good to be here. I miss you guys. Things are going too well for me. Let
me see if I get spiced things up a little. Exactly. I can't believe the last time I spoke
to you. You had no kids. And now you have two. I have a soon to be two year old and a seven month old. Both boys.
So congratulations. You're glowing. You're beaming.
Yeah, I did. It's it's been my my life is insane. It makes no sense to me.
Like I know you don't parent a lot like you golf tons.
But when you have to like parent because you have babies, like it's a lot of work.
Yeah, my, I mean, my kids are in college.
Last time you spoke to me, my kids were entering high school.
Now, my daughter's playing in the final four
for Northwestern this weekend.
So here's the best part.
All right, so like, even though you follow people on Twitter,
it doesn't mean you're always seeing their stuff, right?
So I see very little of you, which I don't know why, because I'm assuming you still tweet a lot. I don't know. You just don't pop up, or maybe you're always seeing their stuff, right? So I see very little of you, which I don't know why because I'm assuming you still tweet a lot. I don't know. You just don't pop up or
maybe you're just not registering because probably my social media is probably blocking you
without even me realizing it to protect me. Right. Anyways, I'm sitting at Jets OTAs and
yeah, the air and Rogers casting happens. Then Alilizar goes down and, you know, I'm giving updates because everyone
is so hungry for the information.
And for whatever reason, right before I hop on TV,
you treat, is anyone on the field?
Who is on the field?
Like something like the ice start dying laugh
and Matt Berry comes out to be live.
I'm still digling actually.
I'm like, you know, it was great
because that's kind of how I felt too at the time.
Well, it was funny because we were doing the main show with Dan and Billy was taking
the light in the fact that because I keep telling everyone, this is not going to go well
because things never go well for the jets, okay?
So Billy is the lighting.
He's in my year.
He's cracking up.
He's telling me, Diana just reported that Rodgers is out and
then five minutes later, he had like tears in his eyes, because Lizard went out.
How could that have happened on the first day like that?
He was, did you see the video? He was throwing a medicine ball, which I was watching and thinking,
like, what, I wonder what that does? Like, whatever, you know,
and he did maybe three hops with it, right?
Cause they were like skipping with it.
And then he stopped.
I'm like, are you kidding?
Like, this is gonna be the reason the Jets season
goes down the drain because of a medicine ball.
Like, so fitting.
Yeah, but Zach Wilson came in and let it up.
I heard, right?
He did.
He's so funny. You say he it up. I heard right he did
Look what did he say he's gonna give that starter hell and he did and that's what he's doing wait Did he did he really look good you said that in a way that was like oh my god
He looks like a different guy. It was odd actually. I was like wow
And so I wanted to make sure my eyes were still seeing you seeing the right thing and because of those what happens is
You think people are doing what they're supposed to but that they're not even running the scripts that was giving them
You're like oh shoot oops, you know, so I actually called a couple coaches after practice to talk about Aaron and
That came up and even one coach offered it up. He's like that look good, right? I was like yeah
He looked really good. So look, I think that's great news.
QB battle.
Quarterback competition.
Yeah, what do you think?
He's asking you seriously, is there one?
No, I think everything Aaron Rogers has done already
is just he's doing the right thing.
And this sounds crazy when you talk to football people,
which you guys are not.
When you talk to people who played the game,
we're like coached or prior GMs.
Like they agree when I've talked about this,
the jets are doing the right thing
because they're not messing this up.
There are teams out there that would have messed this up.
They would have brought Aaron in and said,
you know, this is how we do it here.
And then you're gonna do that, right?
At least the jets are smart enough to say,
this guy's will come before four time MVP
here are the keys to the jets organization,
where to do what you need.
Right.
Yeah, but he knows more about what he and then they do.
So the jets have no leg to stand on, you know.
That's my point.
I mean, obviously they did,
they showed their cards by doing everything
they possibly could to get the guy in the building, but at least now he's in the building
and they they're allowing him to run it as it should be.
Right. But Mikey, how do you feel about Zach Wilson? You get, Sim just going to be right about
that by the way, too, Billy. Zach Wilson's going to turn out to be good. Mikey, you're so mad
right now, Orange. I am so mad because you know what? It's it's it's gonna happen. We're gonna he's gonna play one
mop up game. He's gonna do well. We're gonna be like, Oh, when Aaron leaves here comes Zach Wilson
again, and it's just gonna be the same old thing again. Diana, maybe you're my black cloud.
Well, wow. Unbelievable. You know, it's funny. I had a lot of jets fans the day I was at the UTA tweeting at me.
And some were really nice asking questions, but my favorite ones were get away from the
jets.
Like the first time I was like a aggressively tweeting about it.
Gosh, I wish we got to see some of the offense, but everything I've been hearing, it's
not that it's crisp yet.
It can't be.
They're all learning each other, right?
I can't report anything of like, man, this one looks great.
This one looks great.
In fact, I heard the deepens was lighting it up over the offense at this point right
now.
But in terms of what Aaron's doing on the field, like he's stopping play, he's calling
guys out already, not in a dictator-ship type of way even in just like an overly aggressive way, but just
in a in a coaching, hey, this is why we do this.
This is how I like it.
This is how I like this run.
I want this route to be on this side.
Like, you know, he's very hands on and specific about what he wants and how do you not follow
suit?
I saw you guys talking about the sun.
Get up.
He just seems happier being there.
Like he seems like a totally different person than he has been the last like two years
in Green Bay.
Just because of that, like they've given him the keys and like, hey, you're the legend.
Let's just follow what you want to do.
And he's finally seen the sun.
Anyway.
Look, it's nice to be loved, right?
I mean, you've been doing, he's been doing the same thing for 18 years in the same place
in a place that I don't really think is on the top five list of places that you want to live.
And now he gets to live in the best state in the country and play for, you know, in front of fans
that are starving, right? So, look, I think he looks physically great. Like, he looked younger to
me. He's enthusiastic. I think he seems like he wants younger to me. He's enthusiastic.
I think he seems like he wants this attention too.
He's liking it.
I hit his first little New York moment, right?
So he comes out onto the podium.
And by the way, we didn't even have our full media there.
Like usually you can't even fit in that room
and we all had seats.
So I mean, unless the jets added seat, I don't think so.
Like the normal Air Rogers price conference
is gonna be probably double what it was on Tuesday
when I was there.
But either way, you're still talking 40 cameras still
and video and, you know, the old-school paper reporters
still have those cameras that when you,
when they take a picture picture it still has that like
Right sound, you know and they don't
They don't stop because the quarterbacks talking they just keep going right so
Especially if he's gonna be a more I'll have an emotional reaction or be animated to something it that the the snaps go even higher
So he went you stopped in the middle of a sentence.
He said, gee, and he said, he said, Jesus, right? Because he's not used to that in Green Bay.
He stood at his locker with everyone around him. Now he's up at a podium with a bunch of reporters
thrown questions at him, but also just that, that the sound of the cameras. I mean, it's a small
minor, a little detail, but that's New York. When you said best state, you were talking to New York, not New Jersey, right? Like,
no, I was talking to Jersey. Yeah, no, no, you weren't. You were not talking about
North of New Jersey. Yeah, yeah, what?
I'm from. So I'm from as well. It's beautiful. I offered to give Aaron a tour.
Right. Um, how was that? Was it frosty?
Like how when you first saw him?
Did he?
Because he told you to lose his number.
So how was it when you when you went out to to Jets practice?
Well, he didn't tell me to lose his number.
He he acted like he didn't even know me.
That's worse.
He told Chef to lose his number.
He pretended to not know who Diana was, which is kind of kind of rude.
Yeah.
How did you feel about that?
I felt like I was back in high school.
The guy, you know, the guy denies, he hooked up with you
because he's like, he wants to be cool with his friends.
He's like, who's that girl?
Who's the Burnett?
That's really loud in class president.
She's the hallway and actually he doesn't know you.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Sorry, I didn't want to go to second base, I'm 15.
You've gone further than second base and I last spoke to you. Oh my God.
Grand Slam.
Twice.
How happy is your mom that you've accomplished all the dreams that she had for you?
She's ridiculous.
She's an ass.
She's like, she's on a whole other thing. How are you going
to raise these kids now that your work is fun? Yeah, there's here Billy, this is the
situation, but there's always something. Well, you're still not on Good Morning America
so. You know, Good Morning America recently asked me to do something and I was so busy
and planned and I had to say no and I think this could have
been my chance to go on and just do a quick little thing on Tom Brady and I called Jeff
Darlington like hey can you do the Sermain he's like he's like this is a big moment for
you this is like a family goal like I know what was so important that you couldn't do it? I Actually had a due TV for ESPN like I had
What's
It's good for the America it's ABC. It's the same company. They're all owned by Disney. What's the matter with you?
I probably should have just done it so that day that Aaron did that whole like I don't know who you are thing
I guess the radio this you know so my dad doesn't watch TV,
like he doesn't even, like he could care less on ESPN.
But if I'm on like the fan, you know,
if I'm on like vocals, talk to him on New York,
it looks actually like, they're talking about you on the fan.
It's like, yeah, I know.
I'm actually doing the talking on ESPN.
Like, you know, so he was listening, I guess, to some of the conversations they were having
with one of them was that Aaron Rodgers didn't know who I was.
And so my dad texted me, you should reach out to him and introduce yourself.
I said, Dad, he knows who I am.
I've interviewed him many times.
That's what makes it so mean.
I played golf with him. I have gandled with him.
Like, this is not somebody else. Best friends. We've been at events. Not, I haven't
actually played in his four-sale. Like, it's just, we've been at the same events. We've
had conversation. Right. So it's funny that he did that. But look, I think it was also a little,
it was funny that he picked the girl in it too.
Like, it's like me to Adam, but he doesn't know it.
Whatever, it was funny in the moment and you can't get,
I spend my day talking about players.
I can't all get sensitive when someone doesn't, you know,
speak highly of me in that moment.
So, yeah, so now I gotta see him all the time.
So that's fun.
At least it wasn't like an a giant thing
where everyone was waiting to hear from him for months.
And then he decided to do it
when like millions of people were watching.
Yeah, I debated.
It's fine.
My husband and I had coffee before breakfast
just talking about the day.
And I was like, oh, I gotta go see Aaron.
I said, I'm definitely.
Well, you have to have in a minute, your husband.
Go ahead.
Well, I said, I'm gonna raise my hand and say,
hi, Aaron, Diana Rossini, nice to see you again.
And then ask my father.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
Yeah.
I thought that was a great idea.
My husband's like, have some class.
Yeah, so your dad is not watching you on a ESPN
because he's sitting there listening to the Greg G.
An Audiol day, like that's.
And he doesn't listen to his car.
He has one of those little portable radio things in his hand.
And he brings to my love that.
And he always has up to Zierny's listening to the thing is that I'm so glad
that you can name people on the radio in New York because I don't even know
who's on the radio in New York.
Oh, sorry, Aaron.
It's just like I obviously love where I live and I support everyone from here
But I just I'm not in my car that much anymore, but parent he retired
So I don't know what would he doing with this time, but sports talk radio my father love lives in Philly
He does the same thing if I break a story on Twitter on television
He doesn't know about it, but if wp is a wp. What's that big one in in Philly?
WIP WIP Yeah, I'll tell tax me right away. They're talking about you and WIP
And it's like again ESPN. I work there right so he's getting he's getting your news from Howard S.
Kid. Yeah, unbelievable. So Howard so I hate Howard S.K. I hate Howard S.K. Yeah. He hates us by the way, just so you know, so you're good.
No, I, here's the difference.
I think, because I don't know how you've handled it,
like you probably talk about how much you don't like them,
I went up to Howard S.K.
In Los Angeles recently, and I said, I hate you.
And he said, what?
I said, I hate you.
I don't like the way you talk about me.
You show me no, and I've never done this in my life, by the the way like I get along with a lot of people. I don't like everyone
But I don't hate anyone. He's just but he's so mean and he's been so disrespectful
You know towards a lot of my reporting and the way he talks about me on the air
And he's like oh come on. It's just entertain and I said no, it's entertaining
Stop talking about me.
And he's like, oh, let's make up. I go, no, no, I don't like you. I'm this isn't like a piece agreement.
So, um, yeah, I hate him.
You're a badass.
I think that your husband gave you horrible advice on how to handle Aaron.
I think one and like maybe we can help you. One, do that to Aaron.
Like in the next one, just don't have a question to say, I hate you. I don't like the way you talk about me. Or if you want to take the
high road, maybe like raise your hand and say hi, it's Diana, whatever my last name is
or whatever it is that he said, like very dismissive. Don't even give him your full name
and then ask him the question. Oh, I love it. Yeah, I wish we had the clip of what he actually said. Yeah. Um, but the hardest part
about that was I was on TV when it actually happened. So Sage steel was next to me. And somebody
else was talking to her. I think it was Lewis Reddick or or an anchor. And she's like mowling to me. Aaron Rogers is pretending he doesn't know you.
And so I know they're going to come on TV and ask me about it, right? So I'm credit to
sage in that moment. She looked at me dead in the eye. I was like, be classy. Like she knows my
talent, temperate. So she's like, it's like, oh yeah, go crazy, but I didn't.
So I kept it professional on the air, but inside I was like,
yeah, what a, what a dorky move.
But yeah, no, I'm actually really excited to be around.
I think, I think it'll make for a funny relationship.
I mean, how is it not funny?
I'm gonna make a joke of it.
And I like to think after he talks to me a little bit,
he'll realize, like I'm not this crazy mean for, that crazy mean person. I'm not a mean spirited person. I
love football and I'm going to cover them fairly.
You're a wonderful person. You're a great person. You should only ask him questions about
Zach Wilson. I think that would be great. That's the way I think you should say, Zach
looks really good. Any younger. I keep catching myself too, because you know, we've heard all the rumors about his personal
life and his family.
I'm on TV today with Greeney.
And you know, when you talk about the jets and air and Rogers with Mike Greenberg, it's
like he loses all professionalism.
Like he has no, the dude is a pro pro.
I've never worked around anyone like Mike Greenberg.
He's literally the most talented person I've ever sat next to.
But for every reason, when they go yet, it just goes off the tracks.
And he's not himself and just becomes a fan.
And so, you know, he asked me my takeaway with him in a thing, I'll hack it.
And I was like, look, you would think him in a thing, I'll hack it or family.
And it's like about to come out of my mouth and I realize that's propping up the best
way to put it.
Because you know, it doesn't have that great relationship.
So I would try to find different ways to describe that relationship because he just, he's
new to New York and he's going to get a lot of headlines that I don't even know if he's
ready for.
The most common question I've been getting is how do you think he's going to handle the
New York market, right?
I don't think, I've been part of this market for my whole life.
I don't think we're scary. I don't think anyone at all part of this market for my whole life. I don't think we're scary.
I don't think anyone at that. I agree. We're not scary at all. In fact, I think we get
charm easily because most people are blue-collar grinders. They come from places and a family
that have worked hard to get to where they are. So everyone's just like, let's just do
our jobs and get out of here. Now, we're trying to get anyone.
Let's see if you win, Diana. If you win, if he wins, it wins early,
he'll be celebrated there by the media.
The lab, oh, every, here's the thing that people don't realize.
If you're covering a team, you want them to win.
You want them to win.
It's interesting, it sells papers.
The more you win, the more people are excited by it.
And more interested, but yeah, I'm watching the more people are excited by it. And more interested.
But yeah, I'm watching the fun little back and forth now.
You know, we're all laughing at his jokes and, you know, it's all cute right now.
So I have the top 10 places to live in America.
We're not going to like the results here, but you mentioned greenie being the most
talented person you've ever sat next to.
You've sat next to me just to say, you know, yes, he knows.
Yeah, she's, she's, he knows. Yeah, she got it.
She's yeah.
10 steps ahead of you.
Mm-hmm.
But yet I've been hearing and I don't disagree with you
that you keep giving me all this credit
for launching your television career.
And I flatter by it, I appreciate it.
I'll keep doing it, but I mean, you're not giving it to
Greeney, you're giving it to me.
And Billy's looking at us like, what the hell are you talking about?
Who said besides like the one interview I did with like a Michigan State University
journalism student who's like a junior in her blog about like an experience that helped,
you know, change my career, perhaps have an effect on it.
That was when I answered her.
It's not like I'm sitting with big high profile magazines
and writers talking but reflecting on my dumb little career
going, oh yes, who gots it the reason.
But I will say I have been asked the question
in job interviews in my past and meeting other networks along my trails.
When do you think your career started to get a little steam?
And I say, you know, I always thought that my football knowledge and my relentless reporting
style would get me me a big network.
And I think it helped keep me at ESPN,
but it wasn't until Sioux got in the most raw moment
and I really think in following his own instincts
asked me to do an imitation of my mom and we did it
and that people still come up to me.
It was 5,000 years ago and people still,
that's things, we'll come up to you,
like do your mom, do your mom.
And it's still the hardest thing I've ever done
on the air because you guys wanted
real football information in her accent.
And it was just, it was difficult.
Yeah, what I did was I told you right before
we started the bit and it was great and you crushed it
I said I'm not gonna bail on you like I am not gonna bail on this bit. We're gonna make it work
And you say you trust me
That's what you said and I remember thinking no
Stop saying that in interviews if I could give you a piece of advice. I do owe that day
It was like again, I remember magical day. It was like a, again, I remember I was people.
It was like a July summer day.
No one's working.
No one's listening.
You're filling in.
Dan was on like a 10 year honeymoon.
I'm a little bad.
And no one was really paying attention to me
and you were so desperate to have anyone come on the show
when I was having a walk by.
I mean, there's only so many times
reaching in and walking past the door and saying're right. I'm gonna walk by. I mean, I've only so many times. Reese Davis won't pass the door and say no.
I mean, you remember how uncomfortable you would make Reese?
You'd be like, you're a very good looking.
Oh my God.
Yes.
It was like, I don't know where this is going.
But that was actually, I'll be nice for 10 seconds. That moment forget the fact
that it was fun and I enjoyed it and it took off a bit but it was a great reminder to me and
I've applied it almost every single day and every on-air opportunity I get that me being
myself will always take you to the right place place that moment helped your ascension and was the beginning of st.
God's downfall, which is incredible.
I remember running into Jimmy Pattaro in the stairwell right after we did it.
Jimmy Pattaro, the president of ESPN, he was fairly new at the time.
And I said, uh, hi, how are you?
I'm dying.
We're seeing he's like, I know you are.
I just heard you on the radio doing an imitation room.
Mom, it is fair.
I was cracking up in my office and then he just kept walking and I was like, holy crap.
He was walking downstairs to fire me.
Yeah.
When did they leave?
I forgot HR was downstairs.
Right.
Oh my god. that is too funny.
I'm happy for, well thank you.
That is very, it's the only thing I've ever done for you.
But you are great, you are great
because you have a great personality.
And so that's all I've ever told you
is to kind of bring that into your reporting.
You know, and you have, I've noticed, I've been watching,
I have a call to you, but I've noticed.
Yeah, you know, you don't say I said okay, but but I know you're always looking out
For me like not father of some type
Because I think you saw that I was
The NFL space is so diluted, you know, there's just so many people
And and it's and you know, obviously so many people are such you know are great at reporting chapters the king
and I just I wasn't getting any traction.
And so I realized, I have to stop trying to be Susie Culber.
I gotta stop trying to be Wendy Nex.
I gotta stop trying to be Chef D.
And just deliver information, build relationships,
and be myself.
And let's say, and I'm hoping,
I'm hoping I keep getting better at what I'm doing.
I've meant to ask you this because for me,
when my kids were a little bit older than your kids are
right now, you have two kids,
the work family balance started to become difficult for me.
And so I was wondering how has that transition been for you
because I know your family person, family comes first,
those kids are always gonna come first
before any reporting.
I mean, heck, you blew off good morning,
American, let Darlington have it,
because you have other stuff,
you have responsibilities, you're loyal, okay?
And so how has that balance been for you?
Because I found it'd be very difficult
when I was going through it.
Yeah, it's definitely been the hardest part of everything,
because you want to be great at your job
and what makes, I think, what has helped separate me
over the years are those relationships I have
with people in the NFL.
And that takes time, right?
To have relationships you put in the time.
It's the opposite of what you and I do as a friends, right?
Like, you call for no reason.
You send out text messages.
You meet for a drink. You meet for a drink,
you meet for a coffee to keep those relationships going. And when I was single, even newly married,
not that I was married that long before we had children, but I had a lot of time and
I don't anymore. So in one hand, I became more efficient. I don't have the bandwidth like I used to. Like I
probably lost friends over the last two years. I don't think forever. I just think they get it.
They'll come back. Yeah, I like to think that. But just I have these situations that are
difficult for me. Like I was talking to a jet source right around the time when we thought
Odell was going to sign with them. And I was about to report that he was going to the jets. That's
how good. That's how close of a deal that was about to get done. He obviously went up with the
Ravens. And my son is losing his mind in the car seat. He's screaming so and he's not like that. And I don't know what
was happening, but then you know, young as the mother, I'm worried he's a hurt, but I
need to get the green light from this person to go with the story. It was gigantic. It
was a Thursday. And I remember it was right after it was after the year in Rogers, or
no, air Rogers wasn't officially up, and it was building towards it. So I was like, I gotta get this one. I'm muting the person every time he talks,
so he can hear Michael screaming.
And the whole thing, I'm just like embarrassed,
I'm thinking that I'm getting judged.
Like that's the hard stuff of when I have to be a mom,
but also be a pro.
And thank God almost everyone I work with is in the parent world.
So they get, they, everyone gets it. Everyone gets it.
That helps. Yes. Right.
It does. It's still, I will always be self-conscious about it though. Like, I'm like,
oh man, because it's annoying, right? Who wants to hear beanie screaming in the background?
So just, just things like that are really challenging
and obviously leaving them, which that part of it
hasn't been too hard on the travel.
I'm cool one time.
I'm there.
Cassie, how was it going to be great advice
when I was pregnant?
She said, here's the truth.
No one's going to say this to you.
You can't be in two places at once.
You can't.
It's impossible.
So if you have to be at work, be amazing at your job.
Be the best you've ever been, because you can't be your kids anyway. So if you have to be at work, be amazing at your job. Be the best you've ever been,
because you can't be your kids anyway,
so you might as well go be fantastic.
So it's great advice, and I've kept that in mind.
My husband and I just went on vacation for the first time
when five days, Turks and Kekos, no babies.
Nice, and how was that?
Parable.
Oh, why? I mean, it's a long time, but you're hubby. And how was that? Parable. Why?
I mean, it's a long time with your hubby.
Wonderful.
Well, we're trying not to have a third.
So let's start there, right?
So it was like, all right, let's just, you stay over here.
If my mom is always like, stop looking at each other.
Right?
Stay there.
I stay here.
Wait, I didn't think, I thought mom would want as many grandchildren as possible.
No, okay.
Okay.
I'm like, I gotta work.
I gotta work.
I'm gonna make my stop looking at each other.
You two, you two.
This is you two.
You two, stop doing that.
I'm like doing what I just told them to sweep the kitchen.
So, Jerks and K goes five days.
Yeah, just not good.
We were like, we had a great time the first two days
because it's funny. The server kept coming over to us on the beach
They had that great like beach service and like we keep coming over just want to give you guys drinks
But every time we come over here, you're sleeping
And for like sorry because we our kids still feed it not I still feed my sons at night
So what we're exalt like we're zombies. I'm like I'm dead right now. I'm talking to you
I'm actually napping while I'm talking to you.
We're in it, right?
Two-year-old and a seven-month-old.
It's health.
Is your husband healthful?
He's amazing.
He's unbelievable.
But I started to feel guilty.
Two days in, I'm like, heh, we're on the beach.
We're having fun.
Like we should be with them.
Like, and then he started to feel guilty.
And then we decided to just take this boozy cruise
and we felt fine after like seven run punches.
But yeah, the whole balancing act.
And even, I think when you talk balance publicly,
I feel like females always get the advantage
there because we're the moms and we're looked at as the caring ones.
But I don't think we discuss enough how difficult it is for men that have careers as well
as parents.
If you want to be a good dad, right?
Because I'm watching my husband struggle, not struggle, but he's got challenges as well
with his job and what he does and wanting to be in the kids'
lives, lives.
And it's hard for everybody.
I think Billy would be, Billy Edmike actually, both would be perfect people to ask.
I mean, I went through it years ago and it was difficult because we care about these
jobs.
We love these jobs.
These jobs are very hard to come by.
But we love our children and we don't want to miss moments.
For me, it was missing some of the moments.
That was, that was tough.
Like Billy, you've had, Billy's great.
Like Billy will fly now, tell me, hey,
I gotta go do this with my kid.
We're not doing this right now.
Well, I mean, that's because you also call me
for an hour and a half every day.
And I'm like, stood up.
It's like, do you not hear the baby crying?
Like, I'm trying, I'm moving closer to the moon.
Empty Nester, Billy, I'm bored. Oh, trust me. I know. Trust me. I
know that the times calling and complaining to me has
replaced the times that you spend with your children. I've
gone on to that. Billy, don't you love people who call
between four and seven? Oh my God. Every clock every day
you got to six 30s. Like dude, like this is like bad
feeding bedtime. Worst time getting the in the bed earlier, let's go.
It's horrendous.
Kevin and I will sit on the couch
after we do the bath, the food, the bed.
And you would think we went through war.
Like, we looking at that.
Like that's what you did.
What just happened?
What was that?
You know, and it's such an interesting bond
that you connect with your partner when you're doing it.
It's how it makes you love each other more.
That's definitely not happening in my household.
It's just, it's just a revival.
And you're like, wow, like, we're victims of the same trauma.
Like we've bonded over going through a war together.
And so by the way, lots of nights, my wife doesn't make it.
Like she goes to put the baby to sleep. And she falls asleep and I'm like they're alone on
the couch and like, well, it's 830. I guess I'm done for the day. She's a casualty of war. Yeah,
a lot of nights. Yeah. You left her behind. There was a time where I, because I grew up very old
school, my parents always went to bed together. Like that was just, and they've been married 45
years. So to me, like that, that's the dream.
That's what you want.
And my siblings are the same way with their significant others.
Now it's get a pillow and just like,
if you gotta go, go.
They're like, it's survival all the time.
I'm gonna get you out of here and we miss you.
And hopefully we'll have y'all more often.
But who got you the best baby gift?
Who got, like, what was the best gift you got?
Adam Shafter.
He's the best.
He's just the, I love that man more and more every,
more time I spend with him,
the more you talk to him.
It was so thoughtful, because here's the first kid,
everyone gives you amazing stuff, right?
Seeing Willie, he sent this basket of so much crap
and everyone spent so much money on Mikey.
So I, Joey, and I had my baby so close.
So I knew the second one you don't really go,
you know, I get it.
Like, he did a big deal for the first.
But, yeah.
Are you saying Levi got you nothing, the second one?
Nothing, not even a tax.
He saw me in classic leaves.
He goes pregnant again?
I go, yeah.
Oh. And he knows Kat, he knows my husband. He's hung out with him a bunch of times. He's like good hair, but shit. I'm like, I know. Oh, yeah, no, Shetty.
Fetty just had all these like personal things like like bibs and blankets, all with Joey's name.
Oh, football things, things that I hang in his room.
Like awesome.
And then I had some, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that?
I was like, what's that? I was like, what's that? I was like, with Joey's name. I all football things things that I hang in his room like awesome.
And then I had some the Pittsburgh Steelers sent me a big basket with with the flip,
with the terrible towels and all that crap.
We, you know, we're going to eat those households now.
So yeah, that doesn't go anywhere.
Shepter's incredibly thoughtful.
He really is.
Yeah.
It's amazing.
I have, I have great. I so I've become really close with him. I love being around this person.
He is so socially awkward. He hates the attention. He's actually an awkward person. And I lean
into it, right? Because I'm not. I mean, I'm awkward and weird, but I'm comfortable in
it. I like to sit in it. And so I enjoy being with him, watching him squirm when owners of NFL teams are like fan
blowing over him.
They're like, oh, but you have to see how people react to Shepty.
People with use in football that are, they want to get close to Adam.
And I'm like, this is unbelievable.
It's incredible to watch.
It's why it gets every story.
Quickly, who got you the worst gift?
Someone that we would know, like the worst,
like just like you were expecting big things.
They got you nothing.
Oh, Jeff Darlington.
You gave him good morning America.
Yeah.
What the hell?
He definitely sent me a used blanket.
Now he did not.
Darlington. Definitely sent me a used blanket. Now he did not. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha I'm sorry to laugh, but it's just, it's funny. Good talking football with you. Did we talk football?
I don't even know if we talked football.
Ridiculous.
This is what you created though.
I'm sorry to laugh, but it's just, it's funny.
Good talking football with you.
Did we talk football?
I don't even know if we talked football.
Ridiculous.
This is what you created though.
I'm sorry to laugh.
It's funny.
It's funny.
Good talking football with you.
Did we talk football?
I don't even know if you talk football
ridiculous
this is what you created though
this happens on all the shows i go on
and as
what is my title these days
uh... you tell me what is it i mean
supposed to be at national nfl reporter insider host
and it's become just
just
uh... clown at this point. Thank you guys.
You know what? Listen, you deliver the news, you deliver it well. You're one of the best
in the business. You would add them, Chefter, okay? But when you come on here, our audience
wants to hear about you. All the trials and tribulation through motherhood and being married,
okay? That's what they want to hear. That's what they expect from us, okay? Well, how that I talked to you. I'll definitely be divorced and lose my kids to him probably.
Oh, but she's oh god.
Uh, guys in a few years with my new husband.
For more kids.
Yeah.
All right, we love you. It's been way too long. Thank you for doing this and I know you got to run.
Uh, but thank you for the time. You're great.
Thank you. Gotta go. Bye.
I know you got to run, but thank you for the time.
You're great.
Gotta go. Bye.
Diana was great, but there were two things. I teased a top 10 cities in America, the living list, and I never got back to it.
Bill, he had another football question.
And Bill, he never got to it because I think Billy felt like we went down a much better path
talking about her as a mom
her relationship with her husband.
Mom, her mom telling her and her husband not to look at each other anymore because she
doesn't want him having any more kids.
What's going on at Turks and Kicos?
Isn't that where Mojo said he went and he didn't like it either that he was bored?
That has always seemed like a destination I want to go to, but it seems like the people
that we talked to that have been there recently didn't love it.
So I went to Turks and K-Cos for spring break one year back when I was in college.
I had a blast, but I was in college.
And so wherever you go, you have a blast.
For spring break, anywhere you go, you probably have a great time if there's enough people
there.
But then I went there later on because it was beautiful there, right? Scenic, nice, the water, amazing hotels, fantastic, right? I went back there. Same thing. I,
I think my, my twin daughters at the time were maybe five or six and my wife and I just
needed to get away. And so it's somewhat close to where we live, Billy, in terms of travel
time. And but when I got there, it was not spring break, my friend.
I was bored.
I sat there on the beach, but that's what I needed.
I needed to be bored and I wanted to sleep.
And that's exactly what I did.
What do you get, like, Mikey, if you go to
wait at one of these tropical destinations,
what are you expecting to do there?
You know what I mean?
Eating drink.
Yeah, like I get drink would probably be the only thing I've got there
Like jet skis is there like parasailing and maybe one day I'll decide hey, let me go snorkeling or something like
That's all I need and a vacation at the ocean like right. I don't need any craziness
I want to be able to order a drink that I can't order at a regular bar like I want to like a frozen slushy like peanut oh my god I'm like I'm okay I can do that because I'm in turks and
cake I'm a big Miami vice guy I'm a big Miami vice guy yeah
but listen you guys are both in the middle of it yeah in terms of
parenthood right like you have little kids you you absolutely
understand everything I was just talking about I am years
removed from it but tell me you don like, do you want a wild vacation
right now, Billy, or do you just want to go somewhere
and sleep?
I don't see myself going on a vacation
without my children in the near future.
Like we're already having conversations
about a cruise next year, but a Disney cruise next year.
So even like the cruise will be like, hey, get friendly also like super expensive. And I don't know why we couldn't have gone on a Disney cruise next year. So even like the cruise will be like, Hey, hit friendly also like super expensive.
And I don't know why we couldn't have gone on a Disney cruise
when I still worked at ESPN and got a discount on it.
But that's a story for another day.
All right, what was your NFL question?
By the way, top 10 cities in America to live in.
My wife sent me this yesterday
and she told me don't share it with a specific somebody.
All right.
Number one on the list is Green Bay Wisconsin.
Why? Your wife said not to share that? Well, she said, don't share it with Aaron as
if I could, right? Yeah. Does she think you're you and Aaron are friends?
She does. Yeah. She knows we're friends. I mean, you know, but Mike you ask why in my response to that is Aaron no longer lives there
Got him in a town it's much happier place
But why why they're gonna lose
We had so much football we didn't get to this week like what yeah
Tom Brady said a team owner now We had so much football we didn't get to this week. Like what? Yeah.
Tom Brady said a team owner now.
Patrick Mahomes says, I don't worry about the money.
I care about my legacy, which is such a stupid thing to say by the way.
What are we?
No, it's a great thing to say.
He, because he's loaded and it's not a great thing to mean.
He does, I don't think he does.
If I'm going to be honest with you, that's just, that's the PR game.
That's like, how do I get the fans?
We, I don't care about that.
Oh, no, it's a perfect care about winning. They all know we cares about the money, but
that's perfect to say that you care about the rest of it. That's well done by Patrick
Mom's. It's why he's the best of the game. Guys, Adrian Peterson, not officially retired
according to him. So oh, wow, he's back. He's not because he's not anywhere, but he's
not officially retired. He could be back.
All right, anything else we missed?
Yeah, I was gonna ask Diana, but we didn't get to it.
So the Washington commanders
lost their application to being the Washington commanders
because I guess someone else trademarked it before they did,
which seems like something you would do
before announcing you're the Washington commanders.
Make sure you have that buttoned up. Yeah Washington commanders make sure you have that button up
Yeah, like make sure you have the rights to the team name you've been going by so now they may need to change their name again
Or pay some smart person a ton of money to not have to change everything again
Jealous I didn't think of it. I really I mean save right. Oh, man
Damn this opportunity, Billy. So, someone probably did the same,
well, I guess Mikey told us that's not the case,
but someone may have done the same thing
with the Hartford Whalers.
Yeah, right.
Get back to us next week.
But Billy, I think we addressed the things
that needed to be addressed for our audience, okay?
That's the way we've approached this show.
I know there was a bunch of football stuff.
You just, you know, you ran through it quickly.
We got to it.
But I think they want to hear Chris and purposely put Mac Jones head to two and just to pitch
you off.
And they want to hear Rossini talking about being a mom.
Like, that's what our audience wants, you know?
We just checked all the boxes in case Metal Arc or DK was asking white inch talk about this we did it's in the last two minutes
right and what are they gonna hold the goblas hockey
you